Chicago-Cleveland-Pittsburgh-Washington DC-Norfolk
Flight / Schedule
Chicago-Cleveland-Pittsburgh-Washington DC-Norfolk
Aircraft
Douglas C-54 SkymasterRegistration
NC88842
MSN
3112
Year of Manufacture
1942
Operator
Pennsylvania Central Air LinesDate
June 13, 1947 at 06:16 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Lookout Rock West Virginia
Region
North America • United States of America
Coordinates
38.0660°, -80.9704°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On June 13, 1947 at 06:16 PM, Chicago-Cleveland-Pittsburgh-Washington DC-Norfolk experienced a crash involving Douglas C-54 Skymaster, operated by Pennsylvania Central Air Lines, with the event recorded near Lookout Rock West Virginia.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.
50 people were known to be on board, 50 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 47, passenger fatalities: 47, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The flight departed Pittsburgh at 1724 and at 1753, 29 minutes later, reported over the Flintstone Intersection, 88 miles southeast of Pittsburgh at 7,000 feet. At 1754 the flight received a message from Washington Airway Traffic Control clearing it to the Herndon Fan Marker to maintain 7,000 feet until further advised The flight was also instructed that there would be an indefinite delay at Herndon but that approach clearance could be expected no later than 1920, which was approximately one hour and 10 minutes later than its estimated time of arrival Immediately after receiving this message the flight was given the 1730 hourly weather sequence report for Washington After acknowledging receipt of the Washington weather report, Flight 410 instructed the company station at Washington to request from Airway Traffic Control a clearance to approach Washington in accordance with contact flight rules on the right side of the west leg of the Arcola radio range This request was approved by Airway Traffic Control and at 1803 the flight received a message clearing it to the Washington tower to cross the Arcola radio range station at or below 2,500 feet and in accordance with contact flight rules. The flight was advised that if this were not possible it was to hold at 2,500 feet and to inform Airway Traffic Control. Prior to establishing its descent the flight was instructed to report when leaving each 1,000-foot level In accordance with these instructions Flight 410 reported leaving the 7,000-foot level at 1805 and two minutes later another report was received from the flight indicating it was leaving 6,000 feet. The flight reported its position as "south of Martinsburg" at 1808 and immediately thereafter reported that it was leaving 5,000 feet at that time At 1810 another report was received from the flight, leaving 4,000 feet." Three minutes thereafter the flight again reported its progress and indicated it was leaving 3,000 feet. Approximately 6 minutes later the company station at Washington initiated several calls to the flight but, although these transmissions were continued for several hours, no contact was established.
Aircraft reference details include registration NC88842, MSN 3112, year of manufacture 1942.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 38.0660°, -80.9704°.
Fatalities
Total
50
Crew
3
Passengers
47
Other
0
Crash Summary
The flight departed Pittsburgh at 1724 and at 1753, 29 minutes later, reported over the Flintstone Intersection, 88 miles southeast of Pittsburgh at 7,000 feet. At 1754 the flight received a message from Washington Airway Traffic Control clearing it to the Herndon Fan Marker to maintain 7,000 feet until further advised The flight was also instructed that there would be an indefinite delay at Herndon but that approach clearance could be expected no later than 1920, which was approximately one hour and 10 minutes later than its estimated time of arrival Immediately after receiving this message the flight was given the 1730 hourly weather sequence report for Washington After acknowledging receipt of the Washington weather report, Flight 410 instructed the company station at Washington to request from Airway Traffic Control a clearance to approach Washington in accordance with contact flight rules on the right side of the west leg of the Arcola radio range This request was approved by Airway Traffic Control and at 1803 the flight received a message clearing it to the Washington tower to cross the Arcola radio range station at or below 2,500 feet and in accordance with contact flight rules. The flight was advised that if this were not possible it was to hold at 2,500 feet and to inform Airway Traffic Control. Prior to establishing its descent the flight was instructed to report when leaving each 1,000-foot level In accordance with these instructions Flight 410 reported leaving the 7,000-foot level at 1805 and two minutes later another report was received from the flight indicating it was leaving 6,000 feet. The flight reported its position as "south of Martinsburg" at 1808 and immediately thereafter reported that it was leaving 5,000 feet at that time At 1810 another report was received from the flight, leaving 4,000 feet." Three minutes thereafter the flight again reported its progress and indicated it was leaving 3,000 feet. Approximately 6 minutes later the company station at Washington initiated several calls to the flight but, although these transmissions were continued for several hours, no contact was established.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
3
Passengers On Board
47
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 50
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Chicago-Cleveland-Pittsburgh-Washington DC-Norfolk
Operator
Pennsylvania Central Air LinesFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
North America • United States of America
